About The Living Room

The Living Room is a volunteer-run drug and alcohol-free club that welcomes people of all ages. The club offers opportunities for youth leadership and participation in the operation of club events such as concerts, dances, movie nights, and other social occasions. The Living Room also honors diversity by offering events that serve the interests and needs of multiple social and cultural groups within its community.

HISTORY
In the early 1990s Larry Mills noticed that the young people of Goleta and Santa Barbara were in need of alternative activities. Mills collaborated with Brian Nelson, an active member of the Kiwanis Club, to form an organization for young people. In early 1993 The Living Room was founded.

The club first became active at the Goleta Boys & Girls Club located at 5701 Hollister Ave. In March of 1994 the club moved into the old UFCW building at 7190 Hollister Ave. A contest was held to give the club a name, and The Living Room was chosen, influenced by the couches and coffee tables that gave the venue its identity.

Over the next several years The Living Room made itself home at two other locations. After moving from the UFCW building The Living Room was located in Airport Plaza at 430 S. Fairview Ave. For about 6 months the club moved to another building on Los Carneros Rd. but finally moved back to the building in Airport Plaza.

On January 22, 2003 AFI headlined The Living Room’s final show. Efforts to find a new building and resurrect the venue continued for the next several years with little luck of finding a new home for the club. New Noise Music Foundation currently seeks a new home for The Living Room.

MISSION
The Living Room involves young people to create a safe and positive social atmosphere that is free of drugs and alcohol.

In pursuit of this mission, The Living Room seeks to:

Ensure a drug and alcohol free environment at all club-sponsored events.

Welcome people of all ages to attend club-sponsored events.

Foster a space for free speech and protect attendees from discriminatory language and hate speech.

Offer opportunities for teen leadership and participation at club-sponsored events.

Honor diversity within the community.

To achieve its mission, The Living Room:

Offers open membership to anyone who agrees to be drug and alcohol free while attending club sponsored events.

Sponsors a teen advisory committee which helps make decisions about the club and events.

Organizes events that serve the interests and needs of multiple social and cultural groups within the community.

CORE VALUES

The Living Room is guided by 5 core values:

Drug and Alcohol Free – The Living Room ensures a drug and alcohol free environment at all club sponsored events.

All-Ages – The Living Room welcomes people of all ages to attend club sponsored events.

Free Speech – The Living Room fosters a space for free speech and protects attendees from discriminatory language and hate speech.

Youth-Centered – The Living Room offers opportunities for teen leadership and participation in the operation of club events.

Diversity – The Living Room honors diversity by offering events that serve the interests and needs of multiple social and cultural groups within its community.

NEW NOISE MUSIC FOUNDATION
Established in 2009 and incorporated into a non profit in 2010, the New Noise Music Foundation creates a participatory creative culture through producing its annual New Noise Santa Barbara Music Conference & Festival (Fall), consistent music concerts, workshops, educational lectures and volunteer, internship and career opportunities for all ages, especially young people. In 2012, New Noise will establish a permanent home for a 300+ capacity, all-ages, drug and alcohol free music venue in the Santa Barbara region; The Living Room.